SHOOT OUT AT THE FANTASY FACTORY

This album for me represents Traffic at their peak. It was 1973 and progressive music was at an all time high where many progressive bands were receiving similar accolades for their respective musical abilities. Although commonly overlooked as a band this album in retrospect was their finest 40 minutes excluding their incredible live ' On The Road' double album.The opening title track get's the band quickly into second and third gear with an almost perfect song. Even better is to follow with the marching " Roll Right Stones". Eleven minutes of progressive, jazz, rock fusion at it's best. These guys knew how to jam and it shows even on the studio albums, and although they had experienced some personnel changes the creative force mainly driven by the late Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood was alive and well on Shoot Out Of The Fantasy Factory." Tragic Magic" is another great piece of music but for me the climax of the album is the aptly titled, " ( Sometimes I feel So ) Uninspired" This by all accounts is not one of Traffic's most popular songs, the reasons are lost to me. Maybe it is because it is downright depressing in nature, but hey that is what the song is about. Were Traffic a spent force from a creative point? Was Steve Winwood at the end of the road with Traffic both physically and emotionally or was it a desperate relationship coming to an end? Whatever the meaning of the song the vocal delivery from Winwood is simply awesome and IMHO his finest vocal and lyrical moment with Traffic.